Pocketknife



G. scHRADE `2,188,762

POCKETKNIFE Jan. 30, 1940.

Filed Aug. 15, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN JJ@ Gre orge Sc/zrace g l A ITORNEY Jan. 30, 1940. G. scHRADE '2,188,762

` POCKETKNIFE Filed Aug. l5, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Je y 9 43 2g ff I l 60 G, INVENTOR v "n Byeozge Schrade 6'3 62"@459 49 n ATTORNEY l engages either Patented Jan. 30, 1940 UNITED44 'STATES PATENT oFFics t My invention vrelates to pocketknives of the automatic iiy-open-blade type and comprises improvements on several knives of this type pre,- vously. patented by me and operated'by a push vbutton which normally serves to lock the blade ina closed positionfand to release the bladel when the push button is pressed in. r

. The present invention' is directed more particularly t'o means for locking the blade jor blades in both a closed and opened position, as against accidental opening since I 'rind that with some types of fly-open-blade knives, when carried in a pocket along with other articles such as keys,

coins, and the like, the push button isliable to vbe pressed in,- in a way to release the blade, which is liable to cause damage to the clothing or injury to the wearer.

I have therefore now designed a` dependable lockv to prevent accidental releasement of the blade and to provide means for locking the blade v'not onlyina closed position but likewise in an open position. j y

The invention further includes mechanisms which can be operated by the thumb of the hand supporting the knife, and wherebythe movement of the thumb vserves iirst'to release the safety slide and then to press the button whichreleases the blade. This locking means includes in part a l safety sli'de'which' is closely associated with the push button and a spring whereby the safety slide may be positioned in engagement withthe button to prevent its operation and then moved torelease the button andA blade. The invention further includesa novel form of, locking safety. slide that the handle or lthe lining of the knife to retain the slide in its adjusted position with respect to'fthe button. ,i j My 'invention'is obviouslyl adapted for ,either a loneor two-bladed knife sincethe mechanism employed forthe one blade and positioned adjacent thereto on the oney side can be duplicated on the other side for the other blade. Therefore, for the 4purpose of simplifying and clarifying the drawings I haveused a one-bladed knife for il- -lustrating purposesl e 'l Throughout the several figures of they accompanying drawings Similar characters of reference will be found to denote like'or corresponding' parts throughout the'several figures. n Fig. l showsa side elevation of a one-bladed pocket knife, in an openposition, embodying'my invention. Fig. 2 shows 1a side view of the' same knife on a slightly .enlarged scale,'the bladev being broken away and the handle member being removed from ther side covering the blade locking mechanism. Fig. 3 shows a `'central longitudinal sectional elevation through one end portion of the knife better to illustrate the push button and its locking means.

tion. I

`tion through the Fig. 4 is a somewhat similar sectional View showing the vlocking Fig. 5 shows a detached perspective view of the y locking slide as Seen from'the opposite side from f that shown in Figs. 2 to l inclusive.

- l`Fig. 6 shows a detched perspective view of a `spring forming the frictional runway for v the locking slide and including a stop for the slide `shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5.

.Fig. '7 shows a detailed longitudinal sectional view `somewhat like Figs. Band 4 though includingl a slightly modiiied form of spring'such as is also .shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 8 shows a detailed perspective view of the spring shown in Fig. 7 and which diiers only slightly from that shown'in Fig. 6." x

Fig. 9 shows a side View of a portion of a knife, the handle being removed, illustrating-a slightly modified form of button locking means, in a locked position. i y i Fig. 10 isa central vertical longitudinal section of the'knife operating mechanism in a locked position, as shown in Fig. 9, including a locking slide which has a lug on top side to engagea recess in the handle.

Fig. 1i shows a locking mechanism yvery similar to that shown in Figs.f9 and ll0y except that the locking slide has its friction lug on the underside to engagea hole inV the knife lining rather than in the handle as'shown' in Fig."` 10.

Fig. l2 is a central longitudinal sectional View of the knife locking mechanism shown in Fig. 1l.`

Fig. 13 shows a detached plan view of the locking slide employed in Figs. 11 and 12. `v I f Fig.;14 shows a side'view of aknife, the handle being removed, the blade in a closed position, and employing a. slightly different form of spring actuated locking slide. Y Fig. l5 shows a central. longitudinal section `througl'i the knife shown in Figfle, the blade being in a closed locked position'. l e Fig. 16 is a plan View of a knife embodying my invention the handle being removedand the Fig. 17 is a vcentral vertical longitudinal secknife shown inFig. 16. v

Figs. 18 and 19 show a detached plan and al side view respectively of the looking slide shown in Figs. 16 and 17..

slide in a disengaged posinism is attached, and 2l .the oppositelining the two said .linings being secured to the knife back 22 by rivetsl 23 and made to forma pocket.24 there-between to receive the knife .blade 25,.. A

spring 26 is secured in this pocket, see Fig. 2, by a special rivet 2l', the free .end of which extends forward for engagement by the knife blade when closed against the action of the spring.

The knife blade is hingedly supported in one end of vthe knife on a bushing 28 that is secured between two handle members 29 and 36 by a rivet 3l. One side of the hinged end of the knife 1 blade is provided with aligned notches 32 and 33 to be engaged b-y the locking lever 3d pivotally supported on a pin 35 secured in the upperlining-2B which as will be seen is cut out as atv36 to receive the said lever 34. The handle members ll!) and 30 are secured to the outer face of the two lining members'byrivets 3i. The upper handle member 29is suitably recessed as at 38 to receive and enclose the operating mechanism and in addition is provided with opening 39 for the push button fill and an Vopening @l for the thumb piece 42 on lock slide i9.

A spring plate li3'is secured to the top lining member 28 by a small clip da that is struck up out of the upper lining member and Vthen pressed down upon the notched endv portion of the spring. 'I'he forward end 45 or this spring plate engages the underside ofthe push button 4tv in a way, to holdthe same in an extended position.

The rear end portion of the spring is provided with a stop which is bent up from the metal of the spring while the knife lining has a stamped up incline dl upon which the lower leg i8 of the slide t9 rides. This locking slide, as will be seen from-Fig. 5, is formed from a strip of springysheet metal that -is bent back upon itself to form two yieldable spring members, one forming the upper member andthe other the lower member 48 that slides on the lining 2t and against the inner edges of the spring member 43. The forward pointed end portion Eil of this slide. as will be seen from Fig.- 3, serves to nose in under the enlarged end portion i5 of the` spring which Vin turn is shoved up against the underside of thepush button 40 to lock the same and to prevent it from being depressed and the blade unlocked. This locking slide is provided on the top side of its upper portion with a thumb piece 42 that projects up through the opening i 4l in the top handle member for engagement against the stop Mi,

lincline 41 is formed out of the lining by the operator, when desired, to move the slide forward or backward in thelocking or unlocking cf the button and blade. In Fig. 4 the locking slide is positioned on the lock spring i3 which exerts its energy, upward against the button `as shown in Figs. 3 and '7, the slide being shown withdrawnxand resting lightly on the incline t? would insure it moving forward downthe incline 4l so that its pointed end would move in under the button to lock the same thereby forming `a safetyy blade locking device.4 f

Fig. 6 shows the lock spring with stop 46 formed of the metal of the spring 3and. against `which the lower arm of the locking slide Iabuts.

This form ofspring is used, see Fig. 4, where the form shown in Fig. 8 both the incline lla and `its supporting portion llt are formed integral with vand as a part of the spring. form'of spring d3 is used no the end of the lower part of top of the incline Ma as shown when the safety slide is pulled the button to unlock the Iblade no stop is required but if the safety slide is moved slightlyit shoots forward into the locked position.

vWhen this in Fig. 7 so that so that a slight engagement of the thumb piece accidentally or purposely of a safety-blade 20. In the stop is required asl the slide rests onl back away fromv The forward end ofthe spring lmemberwia as shown in Fig. 10 exerts its 'energy downward against the forwardend of the locking lever 34,'

whereas the spring 43 shown in Fig. 4 exertsits energy upward against the buttonvwhich obvi` ously has the same eiect of forcing the locking lever into the notches of the blade;

In the form shown in Figs. 1l and l2, the slide is disconnected from the button and is vfree to operate automatically by reason of the fact that the end of the lower leg is positioned upon the incline dl and when released,will automatically slip forward beneath the spring 4.3 and lock the i "l button. f

The construction shown in Figs. 9-and 10 differs but slightly from that shown in th-e preceding iigures in that the llooking slide is provided with a` friction lug 5i on the top side of its upper memberfor engagement with thepocket 5 2v in the inner face ofthe handle member .29 to pre-2 Ivent the slide from moving easily. This lug, as

shown more clearlyin Fig. l0, is located adjacent to the forward end of' the locking slide which engages the underside of the headof thepush button and is normally heldin such engagement by the seating of vthe lug vrinthe On the otherhand it can readily be drawn out and the button released by engaging the thumb piece 42 on the slide and shoving it back onine lining member 2o. The Slide in this so-` f form,.Fig. l0, is mounted uponfand guided by'ar spring member 43a which y tudinal opening 54 lformed therein which, like the spring member 43, is secured vto the lining by a clip 44 stamped up from the lining.

The forwardend of this spring member t3 shank of the-*button 40 which is mounted on the locking lever 34 which extends forward of thek is partially positioned in the end portion of the longitudinal opening 5d. In the mounting of this slide the. lower member i8 isguided inthe opening while the vwider upper member is mounted upon the top edge portion of the spring 43a thus forming a substantial bearing rfprfthfe .operation of the slidewhich is shoved forwardy and to receive the shankof 'the push button to better has Y a central longil i a circular pocket 49a` engage the underside of the button.l Thisslide is manually operated through the. engagement of y,

not shown in these views. show a spring actuated form locking means which nore mally rests .in a locked position and must be held back in the unlocked posit-ion while Athe button Figs. lll` and l5 is pressed to `open or close the blade. land when the button is pressed the locking slide'is, re'- jits vthumb piece 42 which projects up through the handle member 29,

leased and locks the button in either open or closed position.y This assembly, likethatfshown in Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive includes a, sheet metal `spring .guide `plate 43vhaving a central longitw.

dinal opening 5A therein and issecured to the lining member by a clip 4 4 struck up from the `lining member. The forwardend of this central 'elongated opening 54 forms a ypocket and guide for the locking lever 34 which ispivotally supported at 35 tothe lining memberV 20. The

- invention is formed of an elongated piece f of sheet ymetal having a thumb piece 42 upon its top side that protrudes through the opening 4I of the handle and has its forward end bent down, see Fig. 15, and deflected forward, ter- `minating in a knife edge 56 for engagement with the inner end portion yof the lever 34 supporting the push button 4Q.` This downwardly deflected portion of the slide also forms a shoulder` for a spring 51, one end of 'which is seated there.- against and the-other end against the rupturned end of the lining that terminates, in the clip 44 which attaches the spring guide plate 43. In

thisy form, like those of the preceding forms of my invention,.the mechanism referred to is enclosed in the pocket 38 of the handle which protects it from injury and disarrangement.y The spring 51 which normally retains the slide in the forward position may ,bev provided with a U-shaped guide wire 53 for supporting the spring. This direct spring action on the slide obviouslyl serves to normally retain the slide in engagement withl the. shank of` the push button is a Way to hold the forward end of the button lever down to engage a notch of thebladewheneither in l an open or closed position.l ,This can thus pro-perly be termed an automatic safety locking slide since it readily snaps into position the moment the notches. of the blade are brought to register with` they locking lever 34. On the other hand,

when the button is pressed it unlocks the blade which automatically is thrown open by the action of thespring 2% within the pocket 24 of the l knife. By lthis construction the knife blade is always locked in either an open or closed position. .Y l v The modified structure disclosed in Figs.` i6 to i9 inclusivel resides principally in the form of the locking means. Inthis case the locking slide 49 is mounted to slide on spring plate 43 andis held thereon in part bythe handle member covering the mechanism and in part by a rib 59 formed on the underside of the slide.` This ,1 slide is provided Iwith a thumb piece 42 and a shouldered end portion 5t against which a spring 55a is supported in a tubular casing Bi. The lining member 20 is provided with an opening Sila for the'v engagement of a spring actuated trigger 62 thatis pivoted to the rib of the slide as at 63 and actuated by a small spring 64 which normally tends to retain` the forward end` 65 of the. trigger vin `a raisedposition to engage the underside of the push button so that when so engaged the notch in rear end engage the edge of the lining at the opening 54a and hold the slide against forward movement. Thevonly way to release this automatic safety lock slide shown in Fig. v16 is by pressing the button, as it can not be released by bringing pressure on the thumb piece 42, but readily releases when pressure is applied to the thumb 4piece to press it back against the action of the spring 55a. This again produces a fly-open-blade-knife ofthe class described having an automatic safety slide which in this instance is pulled away from the push buttonto release the same to be acted upon so as to permit it to be pressed' in to release the blade, The same spring actuated slide vagain'serves Itov lock theblade when the. blade is either opened or closed.

of the trigger will Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A pocketknife' of the class described, com-v prising lining 'and handle members, a blade hingedly mounted therein, a 'locking lever pivotally mounted in the lining to engage and lock vthe blade and carrying a push button, a sheet having one end adapted to engage the underside` of the movable end of the spring the ."said lining having an inclined runway formed thereon in the path of. movement ofthe slide for the frictional engagement of the latter, the said spring member alsoy having a step formed thereon in'the path of movementof the slide'.

2. A pocketknife of the `class prising linings, a backend described, comings and having notches formed in its hinged end portion, aspring to throw the knife blade open, a lever vpivotally mountedin the lining for engagement with the notches `ofthe knife blade and carrying a push button, 4a `locking slide mounted `on the lining and carrying a-thumb piece remote from the push button, means to normally hold the button'in an extended position, spring means to normally hold the locking slide in engagement with the push button, means carried by the slide to engage the lining and retain the slide in a locked position.

` handle portions, a

blade hingedly` supported `intermediate, the lin- '3. A ily-openpocketknfe of the classv de` scribed comprising linings, back and handle portions, a blade hingedly supported intermediate t e linings and having notches formed in its hinged end portion, a lever pivotedly. mounted inr they lining for engagement with the notches of the knife blade and carrying a push button, an'` elongated sheet metal spring positioned on the liningto normallyhold the lever in engagement with the blade, a locking slide toengage the lever and button and including a pair of integral yieldv i able members disposed at an acute angle to each other, one member adapted to slide upon the lining for engagement with the lever and button, an inclined runway in the path of movement of the slide, means to permitv of the operation of the slide to lock and release the push button and a stop to limit its backward movement.

4. A fly-open pocketknife of the class described, comprising lining ,l back and handle portions, 'a blade hingedly supported'intermediate the linings and having notches formed'V in its hinged end portion, a lever pivotally mounted in the lining for engagement with the notches of the knife blade and carrying a push button, an elony gatedl sheet metal spring positioned on the lining to normally hold the lever. in engagement with the blade, a locking slide formed of sheet metal bent back upon itself substantially midway of its length to form two yieldable opposed members` disposed atan acute angle to eachother,` one mem-ber engaging the lining and the other mernber engaging the handle and .having a thumb piece extending through the handle for operation of the, slide and. means to retain the slide in a disengaged position.

GEORGE SCHRADE. 1 

